Showing posts tagged Pray

What Does It Mean to “Pray without Ceasing”?

“Praying without ceasing” means at least three things.

First, it means that there is a spirit of dependence that should permeate all we do. This is the very spirit and essence of prayer. So, even when we are not speaking consciously to God, there is a deep, abiding dependence on him that is woven into the heart of faith. In that sense, we “pray” or have the spirit of prayer continuously.

Second – and I think this is what Paul has in mind most immediately – praying without ceasing means praying repeatedly and often. I base this on the use of the word “without ceasing” in Romans 1:9, where Paul says, “For God is my witness, who I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you.” Now we can be sure that Paul did not mention the Romans every minute of his waking life, or even every minute of his prayers. He prayed about many other things. But he mentioned them over and over, and often. So “without ceasing” doesn’t mean that, verbally or mentally, we have to be speaking prayers every minute of the day in the fight for joy. It means we should pray over and over, and often. Our default mental state should be: “O God, help…”

Third, praying without ceasing means not giving up on prayer. Don’t ever come to a point in your life where you cease to pray at all. Don’t abandon the God of hope and say, “There’s no use praying.” Jesus is very jealous for us to learn this lesson. One of his parables is introduced by the words, “And he told them a parable to the effect tha tthey ought always to pray and not lose heart. He knew our experience in prayer would tempt us to quit altogether. So he, along with the apostle Paul, says, Never lose heart. Go on praying. Don’t cease.

Posted 1 year ago

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Tags: John Piper, Desiring God, When I Don't Desire God, Pray,

John Piper’s Invitation: “Brothers, Come Pray with Us”

Speakers include: Joel Beeke, Francis Chan, Paul Miller, Jerry Rankin, and John Piper
Register for the Pre-conference seminar with Mark Dever: “Healthy Churches—Healthy Leaders: Mark Dever on Church Practice and Leadership”
Purchase books by the conference speakers
Registration deadline—January 28 is the last day to register online!
Get a special rate of $100 per person if you bring five or more people from your church
Spanish is available
See the event schedule
Check out the speaker interviews:
- Joel Beeke—Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
- Paul Miller—Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
- Jerry Rankin—Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
- Francis Chan—Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 forthcoming

Register for the conference online or call 1.888.346.4700

Posted 1 year ago

Tags: John Piper, Pray, Joel Beeke, Francis Chan, Paul Miller, Jerry Rankin, Mark Dever, Leaders, Church, Practice, Leadership, SPanish, Desiring God Conference 2011 for Pastors,

Missionary One of Thousands Who Lost Homes as Floods Devastate Sri Lanka

Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Anthony lost his home and everything in it as floodwaters washed through his village this week in Sri Lanka.

Anthony, who also serves as a pastor in the Batticaloa district, took refuge with relatives. Thankfully, he, his wife and children all escaped injury as the house collapsed due to the flood waters, but they did lose all of their possessions.

Anthony, and hundreds of believers from churches led by Gospel for Asia-supported pastors, are reeling from this blow. They have lost their homes, their crops lay ruined and they have nowhere to turn for help.

The Latest Blow
Sri Lanka has borne the brunt of several major flooding events in the last 12 months. This latest flood is the result of unusually heavy monsoon rains that began in November and continue to fall. The worst-affected areas are in central and eastern Sri Lanka—with the districts of Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee seeing the most damage.

The people in this region of Sri Lanka were just beginning to emerge from the horrors of a 20-year-old civil war, which ended in 2009. Many had finally made strides in recovering from the 2004 Asian Tsunami, which devastated much of this same coastal region.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 million people have been affected by this round of floods—more than half of them in the Batticaloa district alone. The death toll stands at 18 and includes a 6-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl who were killed in landslides on Sunday.

The Sri Lankan military has even been called out to rescue hundreds of people who were trapped in the flood waters.

At least 5,000 homes have been washed away and more than 200,000 acres of crops—including the country’s staple rice paddies—are under water.

“The people of Sri Lanka are suffering in a way that is almost unimaginable,” said Gospel for Asia President, Dr. K.P. Yohannan. “The country has not yet recovered from the record rainfalls that brought severe flooding last year, and now they are battling the same thing again. They need relief, and they need our prayers.”

Gospel for Asia Compassion Services teams are already venturing out into the affected areas to bring emergency relief to the people. On Sunday, they took 200 food packets to people in the Batticaloa region. Each food packet contained rice, lentil beans (dhal), sugar, dried fish and soya meat (soy protein and meat substitute). The families also received soap so they can prevent the spread of disease which happens frequently after floods.

The teams also handed out mats to the people who are sleeping on the floors in the emergency shelters, which are mostly in schools.

Feeding Body and Soul
The teams do not just drop off food and run on to their next destination. They spend time with the people, who are desperate for someone to listen to their sorrows.

“Gospel for Asia’s Compassion Services Teams are there to help, to listen, to pray and to share the love found in Jesus Christ,” Dr. Yohannan explained. “Of course we will meet their immediate physical needs, but we’ll also be there to tell them about a cure for their spiritual hunger and a love that will long outlast the food we give them.”

The teams encountered difficulty reaching the affected areas because of high water; however, they persisted and their vehicles were able to make it through some of the flooding, for which they are thanking the Lord.

“I spoke with our Sri Lanka country leader early Thursday morning, and he was heartbroken as told me about the massive devastation,” Dr. Yohannan said. “I assured him that our commitment to care for the suffering is strong and that we will commit whatever resources necessary to help these people rebuild their lives. We will continue to get teams in to deliver emergency supplies as long as necessary, and we’ll also commit to working with them for the long-term.”

Dr. Yohannan shared the following prayer requests for Sri Lanka:

Pray that the Lord’s mighty hands would be upon this area and that He would cause the weather conditions to change and bring relief to the beleagured people.
Finding food and drinking water is a major problem. Pray that the teams would be able to get in with emergency rations and that the Lord would provide for the needs of the people.
Pray for protection for the people. Many of those who lost homes are now living exposed to the elements or in crowded shelters, sharing space with hundreds of other families.
Pray for the people who have lost all their crops and are now without their major income source for the year.
Pray for the people who are helping the flood victims, that the Lord will give them strength to keep going forward and bring aid.
Please pray for the Lord to miraculously provide a way for our teams to get to the people who are inaccessible due to flooded roads.

Posted 1 year ago

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Tags: Sri Lanka, Flood, Home, Gospel for Asia, Batticaloa District, Ampara, Trincomalee, Monsoon Rain, WOrld Health Organization, Asian Tsunami, 1 Million People, Crop, Dr. K.P. Yohannan, Jesus Christ, Pray,

Floods around the World

51 dead from flooding in the Philippines; 1.6 million affected

(CNN) — Some 51 people are dead in the Philippines after weeks of intense rain caused severe flooding across the Asian nation, the country’s national disaster agency said early Monday.

Rains continued to linger over much of the the island of Luzon, with land around the Visayan Sea and the eastern island of Mindanao also experiencing significant precipitation, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in a statement.

Those killed, ranging from ages 1 to 80, died from drowning, landslides or electrocution, according to the disaster agency.

Twelve people are still missing, while another eight were hurt — all in landslides in southern Leyte province.

The crisis began weeks ago, on December 29, when a monsoon over northern and central Luzon met a cold front in southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The result was severe flooding and landslides in 25 provinces.

The storms have affected nearly 1.6 million people from more than 300,000 families, according to the disaster agency.

Some of the worst conditions have been in Caraga, on Mindanao island, where more than 600,000 people have been impacted and 20 killed. Leyte and Samar also have been hard hit, with about 530,000 people in that region affected.

The monsoon has wreaked havoc on structures and infrastructure as well. More than 500 homes have been destroyed, and just under 2,000 partially damaged. The disaster agency estimated that, in total, the storms caused 417,715,140 Philippine pesos’ ($9.5 million U.S.) worth in damage to agriculture, infrastructure and private properties.

December and January are traditionally part of the Philippines’ dry season, with heavy rains more common in the islands from May to October during the summer monsoon.

Officials say 40 killed in South African floods; more rain predicted

Johannesburg (CNN) — It was midnight when a neighbor warned Freddie Ramashidza that they were in danger.

“I had just finished praying and was falling asleep. When my neighbor knocked on the door, the water was already knee-deep,” he said.

Ramashidza is among thousands of people who live on a riverbank northeast of Johannesburg’s center — their homes in peril as the waters rise.

According to South Africa’s government, at least 40 people have been killed across the country and more than 6,000 displaced by flooding that has submerged houses, roads and crops since December.

Officials estimate the damage to infrastructure and agricultural produce will cost the country millions of dollars, and forecasters predict more rain is on the way.

The South African Weather Service said most of the country’s rivers, dams and reservoirs have reached their capacity, and any additional rainfall is expected to cause further flooding.

Meteorologists blame the downpours on La Nina, a weather pattern associated with recent wet conditions around the world.

Many of the country’s poorest residents are the worst affected. On Monday, authorities evacuated more than 30 people from a shantytown in Johannesburg.

The government declared 28 municipalities in seven provinces disaster areas on Monday, meaning they qualify for federal flood relief funds.

But it could be months before the money trickles down to the people most impacted by the floods.

With more flooding likely on the way, Ramashidza said he had nowhere else to go to take cover.

‘We are afraid. But there’s nothing we can do,” he said. “We just have to trust in God.”

Flooding spreads to southern Australia

(CNN) — Portions of southern Australia kept a close eye Wednesday on rising rivers that threatened to add to the mounting destruction from a month of flooding that has killed at least 21 people, inundated homes and devastated thousands of acres of crops across the country.

Residents of the rural town of Kerang were told to quickly evacuate their homes Wednesday morning as it became clear the levee protecting the town had failed in several places, according to Victoria State Emergency Services.

“You should ensure you have left your property immediately,” the agency said in an alert.

The evacuation follows one late Tuesday night for portions of Warracknabeal, an agricultural town of about 2,500 people in western Victoria, about 180 miles northwest of Melbourne.

The agency said overnight flooding there could affect homes by sunrise and leave residents isolated for several days.

Ray Jasper, incident commander for emergency services in Victoria, said helicopters would likely be delivering bread, milk and medicine to remote parts of the state for at least two weeks.

“We have houses inundated. We have a lot of isolated rural properties,” he said.

Potential for more major flooding in the state remains strong, CNN International Meteorologist Jennifer Delgado said.

On Tuesday, search and rescue divers found the body of an 8-year-old boy who fell into the water near a river the day before, Victoria police said.

Authorities were still preparing a coroner’s report and had not officially linked his death to floods. But earlier Tuesday, Prime Minister Julia Gillard mentioned the boy’s disappearance as she briefed reporters on the country’s flooding crisis.

“We know many communities are anxiously waiting as floodwaters rise, and many townships across Victoria have already been impacted by floodwaters,” she said. “We also know that a small boy is missing, and so these are very difficult times in Victoria.”

Gillard said she spoke with victims at a shelter in the state Monday — many of whom had been evacuated from their homes and did not know what they would find when they return.

“Even in those circumstances, when I met with those Victorians, very many of them said to me that their thoughts are actually with the people of Queensland,” she said.

Floods in that northeastern Australian state have killed at least 20 people, police said.

“People have lost their homes, they’ve lost their workplaces, they’ve lost their communities and, tragically, a number of Queenslanders have lost their lives,” state Premier Anna Bligh told reporters Monday.

In a televised interview four weeks after the state’s flood crisis began, Bligh said that an investigation would analyze whether river dams “work as they’re supposed to and are operated as well as they technically can be,” according to a transcript of the interview published on the government’s website.

Police said Monday that 15 evacuation centers housed 1,300 people overnight across Queensland.

Families search for missing as death toll rises in Brazilian floods

Rio De Janeiro (CNN) — A helicopter rescued 18 people from a city in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro state after rains caused devastating flooding and mudslides in the mountainous region, the country’s Air Force said.

Four children — including a 30-day-old baby, were among those lifted to safety Monday. The Air Force said one of them — 6-year-old Guilherme Carvalho — summed up the feelings of the group with a simple exclamation: “Relief!”

But rescuers have not been able to reach some hard-hit areas, and many more people are feared dead. Forecasters predict rain will continue for several days in areas already submerged in water.

The death toll from flooding in Rio de Janeiro state has climbed to 665, according to government figures released late Monday. And thousands are homeless across the state.

Other states in the South American country have also seen heavy rainfall. Last week, authorities in neighboring Sao Paulo state said 24 people had been killed by flooding.

In Rio de Janeiro state, flooding and mudslides turned the once-picturesque tourist town of Teresopolis into a wasteland. Bodies and belongings remained strewn amongst fallen boulders Monday as family members searched for loved ones in the rubble.

Outside a makeshift morgue in Teresopolis — where the government said at least 276 people had died in flooding — a crowd of people waited for their turn to identify loved ones.

Marco Antonio Siqueira Costa said the last time he saw his brother, sister-in-law and niece was a few days ago, before mud buried their house.

“I think that last meeting was God’s way of granting us a farewell,” he said.

Residents in the city donned masks and helped clean streets or deliver first aid. Others combed the city searching desperately for missing loved ones.

Meanwhile, experts and officials tried to pinpoint what caused the catastrophe.

“Combine a weather event and environmental irresponsibility and the sum equals a tragedy,” said Carlos Minc, Rio de Janeiro’s environment minister.

Minc said he wants to stop construction of homes in high-risk areas, such as river banks or steep mountain slopes — a practice that he said was encouraged by previous governments. He pointed to Nova Friburgo — the hardest-hit city, according to government figures, which list 312 deaths due to flooding there.

“We are monitoring river levels, but it isn’t enough. In Nova Friburgo, for example, we had warned six hours in advance that the river was overflowing, but…there is no emergency plan or drills with the population so they know what to do in a situation like this,” he said.

Brazilian authorities have been criticized for a lack of disaster planning, and for allowing people to build homes in areas known to become treacherous in the rainy season.

They are under increasing pressure to show a strong response. Brazil is scheduled to host the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016.

P R A Y

Posted 1 year ago

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Tags: CNN, Caraga, Flood, Luzon, Management Council, Mindanao, Monsoon, National Disaster Risk Reduction, Philippines, Pray, Samar, Visayan Sea, South Africa, Johannesburg, Freddie Ramashidza, Australia, Death, Warracknabeal, Victoria, Melbourne, Ray Jasper, Jennifer Delgado, Julia Gillard, Brazil, Rio De Janeiro, Guilherme Carvalho, Help, Rescue,

North Korean female soldiers smile before a parade to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea in Pyongyang October 10, 2010. REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic

Since Christianity first came to Korea in 1777, its followers have been persecuted. In 1801, three hundred Catholic leaders were killed for refusing to perform ancestral rites, as well as their participation in politics. Persecution continued and, in 1866, another eight thousand Christians were killed. In the late 1800’s Christianity was legalized, but under Japanese rule (1901-1945), it was again banned. When the Communists took control following the end of World War II, there were about 300,000 Christians. That number has been reduced to a few thousand. Recently, it has been reported that several underground churches exist within North Korea, but it is impossible to make any reasonable estimate as to the number of such groups.

North Korea has consistently topped the world’s human rights watch lists as being the most repressive and closed nation on earth. Reports of dreadful and inhumane actions, particularly towards Christians, make their way steadily to the west. The nation is governed under a state religion called “Juche,” meaning “self-reliance.” Citizens are required to worship their dead leader, the “Eternal President” Kim Il Sung, and his son, the current dictator, the “Dear Leader” Kim Jong Il. Kim’s lifestyle and political decisions betray his cruelty and brutality towards his own people. During the 1990’s, as an estimated 2 million North Koreans starved to death in a preventable famine, he callously continued to bolster his armed forces.

Speaking out against Kim Jong Il’s or showing signs of hostility towards his regime carries with it severe consequences, including detention in concentration and prison camps. While the current restrictions make it impossible to determine the total number of those imprisoned, current estimates suggest that some 200,000 North Koreans are languishing in detention—many of whom are believed to be Christians. Religious prisoners are often subjected to harsher treatment, and given the most dangerous tasks, all in an effort to force them to renounce their faith. When they refuse, they are often tortured to death. Those caught praying are beaten and tortured.

Many citizens attempt to escape North Korea’s deplorable conditions by fleeing to another country, but are frequently forced to return to face interrogation, torture, detention and often death. Those who do confess faith in Christ during the interrogation process have been known to be executed immediately.

Prayer Requests

Pray frevently for what remains of the church in North Korea.

Pray for strength and protection for prisoners of faith.

Pray that God will reveal Himself to Kim Jong Il and graciously transform his heart and the hearts of his subordinates so that they will embrace Christ.

Pray that Christians will have opportunities to share the love of Christ, even with those who oppress them.

Blessings,
David Jee [Eternity Bible College]

Posted 1 year ago

9 notes

Tags: Catholic, Christian, Gospel, North Korea, Persecution, Pray, Soldier, Voice of the Martyrs,

Prayer Letter for January 2011.

AMERICAS

Colombia – Desano/Tucano: Thank you for praying for the Desano FCBH process in Colombia. 75 additional Proclaimers were placed in the jungle with speakers who gratefully expressed their appreciation. “The people were very happy to get them and very happy with us and send warm greetings to you… To those who gave the money for this trip I send warm greetings. May God help them.” In addition to his work among the Desano, he also was able to bring 50 Proclaimers to Tucano speakers. The brother who delivered these Proclaimers faced difficulties during his trip. Pray for him and his family as he continues to work in a challenging environment.

Colombia – Siriano: Please pray for Colombian missionaries who will be implementing listening groups among the Siriano people during the month of February. They live in a very isolated area that has had security problems and transportation challenges on the river system. Pray that all the logistical arrangements come together so this missionary couple can impact the entire people group with Audio Scriptures on the Proclaimers.

Colombia – Huitoto: The Huitoto live in a dangerous area of the country that is difficult to reach from the outside. Our ministry partner team is not able to transport Proclaimers as the only airline that serves that area only transports passengers. Pray for: a solution so the 150 Proclaimers can get into this needy area; the health, strength, and safety of our partner team who works in this area.

Cuba: A report from our Regional Manager for the Americas states, “The Bible Commission recently received a letter from the Cardinal of Cuba officially declaring their desire to be involved in and participate in this movement” (Faith Comes By Hearing listening group activity). We are thrilled that God has opened doors in Cuba and look forward to encouraging the church through use of the Audio Scriptures. Pray with us that the church would grow and be strengthened.

Brazil – Sanuma: Be in prayer for the Sanuma New Testament recording that is in process in a remote corner of Brazil. Pray for: the health and safety of the ladies who are recording this New Testament; good readers and voice participants; and spiritual opposition to be pushed back.

Honduras – Tolpan: Continue to pray for acceptance of FCBH in the isolated Tol community: The people are resistant and antagonistic toward the Gospel. We are grateful that the recording is complete and our Regional Coordinator will be going there soon to work with a local ministry to implement FCBH listening groups.

Mexico: One of our Regional Coordinators recently visited the southern part of Mexico where he attended listening groups. He confirmed the work that God is doing in the lives of those who listen to the Scriptures on a regular basis. At the same time, he was stunned by the darkness among certain groups of people in the places he visited. Please pray that the light of the Gospel will reach those who are distant from God and lost in the shadows of despair and confusion.

Peru: Our Regional Coordinator who works in Peru visited a listening group in a very remote location. Even though there had been no contact with this church since the group started listening in May 2010, the coordinator was overjoyed to learn from the local pastor that, as a result of listening to the Scriptures, 40 young people had made a profession of faith. Many of these new believers abandoned some of the activities of their previous lifestyle, thus changing their lives. Pray for the youth as they constitute a large percentage of the population of the country.

Alaska: A ministry team recently traveled to Kotzebue, Alaska to begin recording the Inupiak New Testament. There is excitement in the air among the speakers of this language that live in more than 13 villages. Pray for: the safety of the participants as many of them will be traveling on snow machines over frozen rivers; the recording team as they adapt to the new location, climate, and darkness; that the recording process will go smoothly and expeditiously.

Africa

AFRICA

Burundi: Security forces can now find strength and comfort in the Audio Bible when they are away from home. Soldiers now gather around the Proclaimer when they are deployed as church services are not immediately available. Pray they will receive strength and courage as they listen to the Bible and that the unsaved would find lasting hope in God.

Sudan: Pray for peace during and after the referendum in Southern Sudan. This is an exciting yet potentially unstable time in the region. FCBH is prepared to record several more languages in Sudan this year, as long as peace remains after the vote.

Côte d’Ivoire: A political standoff has shut down much of the country after a presidential vote took place last November. Pray for: our partners and numerous listening groups throughout the country; that peace and resolution would come soon to this area; a shipment of Proclaimers scheduled to arrive within the next couple of weeks to clear customs without any issues and arrive without any delay.

West Africa: The FCBH Regional Manager and Coordinator are traveling to numerous countries in this region. Pray for their health, and that God would grant them wisdom and strength as they take numerous flights and meet with many partners. Lift up the families left behind as it is often difficult while spouses are away.

Europe

EUROPE/CENTRAL ASIA

Praise God for:

successful meetings with partners in the UK; for the wealth of information He provided through our partners there
the new Greek, Russian, and other unnamed translations that He will make available to FCBH
the completion of a recording in one of the sensitive areas you prayed for last month

Please pray:

for another recording in a sensitive area to begin soon
for God to open up opportunities to include the new Greek and Russian translations into the Digital Bible Project
for FCBH’s participation in the upcoming conference of organizations ministering in sensitive areas in the 10/40 window, for many new contacts and opportunities
for the Lord to open doors to new partnerships for FCBH in Europe
that FCBH’s existing partners in this region will join with us in the Digital Bible Project, preparing to touch almost every person on the planet with the Gospel

ASIA (EAST, SOUTHEAST, SOUTH, PACIFIC)

Bangladesh: As we begin a new year, we look forward to continuing a strong partnership with the Bible Society in Bangladesh. We pray for the new General Secretary asking God to give him continued wisdom and strength as he serves God and the people of Bangladesh in this new position. We also pray for the retiring General Secretary who has been a close friend and ally to Faith Comes By Hearing for many, many years. We pray God grant him good health and abundant peace in the upcoming years. Continue to pray that the Word of God goes forth and blesses those who have the opportunity to hear of God’s boundless love and grace.

India: FCBH Field Officers continue to identify and develop new partnerships in their specific regions. The team is constantly working on in-country shipping coordination, along with maintaining a high level of service to the partners who are implementing Proclaimers. Field Officers often travel to train these new partners; pray for their safety and travel without delays. In addition, pray for the new partners who travel to the training often amidst poor weather conditions and among violence from local insurgents. Pray for protection of and delays against the implementation of many new partnerships that will start in the next several months; and for the recipients of the Word of God.

Pray for programs that are carried out in sensitive areas as persecution and harassment reports are regular among ministries in India.

Please pray that partnerships will be established in the regions where new “mother tongue” recordings can be used by the people: Boro, Chhattisgarhi, Garhwali, Kashmiri, Konkani, Kui, Malto, Mundari, and Naga Ao. Several newly finished recordings have also been received from the field. Please pray that final processing goes smoothly and that when the languages are released new partnerships will be developed in the appropriate regions.

Nepal: Please pray that shipments would get through to the partners as shipping is often limited due to the restraints of importing. As mentioned previously, FCBH has been blessed by many individuals hand-carrying Proclaimers into the country, but we are still limited in getting enough in to satisfy the requests!

We thank God for receiving a report telling us that over 12,000 people are hearing the Word of God. Please pray that this number increases (as more reports are received), that new partnerships continue to be established, and that new opportunities of getting the Proclaimers into the country will present themselves.

Sri Lanka: Pray for many opens doors and new partnerships to be developed as we go forward in this great country.

Singapore: The director of one of our major partnerships had emergency eye surgery in January. Please pray for complete healing as well as comfort and patience in the recovery process.

East Asian Restricted Access Nation: A clear, simple, and cost-effective delivery system is needed. We have tried to present proposals to the applicable constituencies for many months without success. Please ask God to bring the applicable parties to the table; to grant us wisdom and receptive hearts to these proposals; to prepare the hearts of government officials so that they will grant the necessary authorizations.

Southeast Asian Restricted Access Nation: Severe persecution of Christians and our partners, in particular, has temporarily stalled the implementation of new Bible listening groups. Please ask God to protect His people while granting them continued boldness in the face of suffering; to provide new partners to take the initiative in expanding the use of Audio Bible engagement for discipleship.

Asian Restricted Access Nation: A door has opened to record the national language of this country where we have no Bible listening groups to date. Please ask God to continue to move the hearts of the text holders to permit this recording and to prepare a recording team for this difficult assignment.

North Africa/Middle East

NORTH AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST

Pray for believers throughout North Africa Middle East who are persecuted for following Christ. Many people have undergone physical, emotional, and spiritual persecution, but have continued to follow Christ in spite of their circumstances. We continue to be inspired by stories of believers in these countries, holding true to their faith despite difficult conditions.

Arabian Peninsula: Please pray: that God would bless the new FCBH listening programs that have already begun in these countries and for those starting in the next few months; for those who will carry Proclaimers into various countries to reach out to the local population; for the continued outreach to migrant populations in several countries and the success in seeing these workers reached for Christ.

The Levant: Pray for the government in Lebanon which is undergoing strife because of the divisions within its government. This affects the outreach to the Lebanese people. Also pray for a new partner in north Lebanon who is seeing marvelous results with our Faith Comes By Hearing programs.

Sudan: Pray for: the referendum that would separate Sudan into two countries, for calmness and peace; for language recordings throughout Sudan so that more Sudanese can hear God’s Word in their heart languages.

Afghanistan: Pray for new opportunities for Faith Comes By Hearing programs in Afghanistan.

Persia: Pray for strength for the believers and house churches in Persia, as the government is arresting and detaining many who worship and lead house churches.

Egypt: There have been bombings in churches, protests in the streets, and the tension is very high. Pray for: the unrest; for peace between the two main religious groups; and that Christ will be seen in all actions.

Kurdistan: Pray for new New Testament recordings that will reach these people living in a country without borders. Pray for opportunities for Kurds to hear the Gospel in their language.

North Africa: Pray for opportunities to record and use languages in several countries in North Africa for Faith Comes By hearing programs. New connections are being made and exciting potential for new outreach.

USA

FCBH Human Resources: Please pray for the health and welfare of our staff members and their families as we start the New Year. Several are struggling with health and other life issues. Thank you for your prayers.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYER SUPPORT!

Blessings,
David Jee [Eternity Bible College]

Posted 1 year ago

Tags: International Prayer Letter, Faith Comes By Hearing, Colombia, Desano/Tucano, Pray, Siriano, Huitoto, Cuba, Brazil, Sanuma, Honduras, Tolpan, Mexico, Peru, Alaska, Africa, Burundi, Suda, Cote D'Ivoire, West Africa, Europe, Asia, Praise, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, East Asian Restricted Access Nation, Southeast Asian Restricted Access Nation,

How to Pray for Egypt Today: An Insider’s Report

Editor’s Note: Ramez Atallah serves as general secretary of the Bible Society of Egypt. Asking for ongoing prayers, he sent this report today when internet access was restored to the nation in turmoil.

1. Christians and Muslims have been united as never before defending their homes on overnight shifts (due to the lack of police security). This is resulting for many to make friends with neighbors they never knew, and there is a real sense of camaraderie, which we never had before.

2. Most of the demonstrations in Cairo are restricted to Tahrir Square, which is very close to Kasr El Doubara Evangelical Church, so they especially need your prayers for protection.

3. No one we know has been injured or attacked.

4. Food, medical, and other supplies are dwindling, since most factories and businesses are closed after last weeks wave of vandalism and the daily 3 p.m. curfew. Pray for the poor and destitute who suffer most at this time.

5. I’ve lived through many of these kind of dramatic events: 1952 revolution, which deposed the king; the burning of much of downtown Cairo; the tri-partite attack on Egypt in 1956 by the Israelis, French, and British following the nationalization of the Suez Canal (a bomb fell in our garden); the nationalization of all capitalists when my family lost all their properties and were terribly humiliated—my pediatrician was tortured to death in jail during that time; the brutal assassination in 1981 of President Sadat after he made peace with Israel; the security forces’ rampage, which caused much damage around the city and a strong earthquake in 1992, etc. So though this situation is volatile and unstable, we’ve lived through similar crises and its not time to panic or leave the country.

6. All Bible Society staff and properties are safe up till now.

7. Please pray for:

a. Christians in Egypt (locals and expats) to not get tempted to “run” when things get hard. Libby Little, whose husband, Tom, was brutally murdered in Afghanistan last summer, said that during that terrible war they and their daughters were called “the people who stayed”! Lucien Accad, the former head of the Bible Society of Lebanon, stayed with his family during that dangerous civil war even though they all had Swiss passports and could leave.

b. For the Bible Society of Egypt to think of creative ways to bring God’s Word to the people in appropriate ways during these difficult times (much of Scripture was written in contexts of danger). Staff are working from their homes on print and audio materials to produce as soon as we get back to the office.

c. For wisdom for the Army to know how to control the situation without resorting to brutal means to control the crowds.

d. For me to quickly recuperate from a heart crisis (arrhythmia), which I succumbed to last Wednesday and spend eight days in CCU. Today is my first day home.

Blessings,
David Jee [Eternity Bible College]